Nanny

Nanny

Noun · /ˈnæn.i/

Definition

A person, typically a woman, employed to look after children in their own home; a grandmother (informal British); a female goat (nanny goat).

Origin

From Nanny, a pet form of the given name Ann or Anne. The use of Nanny as a term for a child's nurse or carer entering English in the 18th century, likely developing from the affectionate name children gave to their carers. The nanny goat sense using the same name applied to the female goat by analogy — as Billy goat uses the male name Billy. The nanny state being a term coined in the 1960s-1970s for an overprotective government that treats citizens like children needing supervision.